Tectonic evolution of the West Kunlun Orogenic Belt along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau:Implications for the assembly of the Tarim terrane to Gondwana

The West Kunlun orogenic belt(WKOB) along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is important for understanding the evolution of the Proto-and Paleo-Tethys oceans. Previous investigations have focused on the igneous rocks and ophiolites distributed mostly along the Xinjiang-Tibet road and the China-Pakistan road, and have constructed a preliminary tectonic model for this orogenic belt. However, few studies have focused on the so-called Precambrian basement in this area. As a result, the tectonic affinity of the individual terranes of the WKOB and their detailed evolution process are uncertain. Here we report new field observations, zircon and monazite U-Pb ages of the "Precambrian basement" of the South Kunlun terrane(SKT) and the Tianshuihai terrane(TSHT), two major terranes in the WKOB. Based on new zircon U-Pb age data, the amphibolite-facies metamorphosed volcanosedimentary sequence within SKT was deposited during the late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian(600-500 Ma), and the flysch-affinity Tianshuihai Group, as the basement of the TSHT, was deposited during the late Neoproterozoic rather than Mesoproterozoic. The rock association of the volcano-sedimentary sequence within SKT suggests a large early Paleozoic accretionary wedge formed by the long-term lowangle southward subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean between Tarim and TSHT. The amphibolitefacies metamorphism in SKT occurred at ca. 440 Ma. This ca. 440 Ma metamorphism is genetically related to the closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean between Tarim and the Tianshuihai terrane, which led to the assembly of Tarim to Eastern Gondwana and the final formation of the Gondwana. Since the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic, the northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean along the HongshihuQiaoertianshan belt produced the voluminous early Mesozoic arc-signature granites along the southern part of NKT-TSHT. The Paleo-Tethys ocean between TSHT and Karakorum closed at ca. 200 Ma, as demonstrated by the monazite age of the paragneiss in the Kangxiwa Group. Our study does not favor the existence of a Precambrian basement in SKT.     

Synchronizing seismic networks with ambient noise

The technique of retrieving Green's functions by pairwise correlation of a random wavefield is used to estimate the stability of the timing system of a seismic network. The method is demonstrated with data from a network consisting of stations with four independent clocks and GPS-receivers. For a two years period, daily measurements of the timing error of each of the four systems are obtained. These measurements can be used to correct the timing of the data in periods without GPS reception. The accuracy of this method can exceed the precision of the internal station clocks already after a single day of uncorrected drift.     

Minimum on the light curve of the classical symbiotic star AS 338 in 1999

We present our UBVRI photometry and spectroscopy of AS 338 performed in 1999–2000. Another eclipse of the hot component in this symbiotic binary system, the deepest one ever observed, occurred in September 1999. The U brightness declined by ～2^m, the Hβflux decreased by a factor of ～2.3, and the [O III]γ5007 flux did not change. The hot component is eclipsed at orbital phases ?≈0.045–0.057. The U-B color index begins to appreciably fluctuate during an eclipse of the hot component and its circumstellar envelope. About 100 days after a strong outburst of 1995, the mean UBV brightness of AS 338 declined linearly in the ensuing five years at the same rate in all bands (ΔU/Δt≈10^?3 mag/day). The brightness of the outer, uneclipsed parts of the circumstellar envelope also decreased, which is attributable to a reduction in the luminosity of the hot component against the rise in its temperature. The appearance of He II lines has not yet been recorded, though the optical brightness of AS 338 has already dropped by ～2^m after the outburst.     

Rapid report of the 8 January 2022 ​MS 6.9 Menyuan earthquake,Qinghai, China

The M_S 6.9 Menyuan earthquake in Qinghai Province, west China is the largest earthquake by far in 2022. The earthquake occurs in a tectonically active region, with a background b-value of 0.87 within 100 ?km of the epicenter that we derived from the unified catalog produced by China Earthquake Networks Center since late 2008. Field surveys have revealed surface ruptures extending 22 ?km along strike, with a maximum ground displacement of 2.1 ?m. We construct a finite fault model with constraints from InSAR observations, which showed multiple fault segments during the Menyuan earthquake. The major slip asperity is confined within 10 ?km at depth, with the maximum slip of 3.5 ?m. Near real-time back-projection results of coseismic radiation indicate a northwest propagating rupture that lasted for ～10 ?s. Intensity estimates from the back-projection results show up to a Mercalli scale of IX near the ruptured area, consistent with instrumental measurements and the observations from the field surveys. Aftershock locations (up to January 21, 2022) exhibit two segments, extending to ～20 ?km in depth. The largest one reaches M_S 5.3, locating near the eastern end of the aftershock zone. Although the location and the approximate magnitude of the mainshock had been indicated by previous studies based on paleoearthquake records and seismic gap, as well as estimated stressing rate on faults, significant surface-breaching rupture leads to severe damage of the high-speed railway system, which poses a challenge in accurately assessing earthquake hazards and risks, and thus demands further investigations of the rupture behaviors for crustal earthquakes.     

The Reference Manure Concept for Transformation Tests of Veterinary Medicines and Biocides in Liquid Manure

Veterinary medicines and biocides are frequently applied in animal houses of livestock husbandry. Due to these application patterns, they reach liquid manure. So far these substances are not transformed during manure storage, they enter soil by the application of manure as organic fertilizer. Therefore, biodegradability of veterinary medicines and biocides in manure is in the focus of regulatory procedures of environmental risk assessment. Since the representative and reproducible sampling of manures from high volume tanks is considered impossible due to high matrix variabilities, the reference manure concept was developed to utilize liquid bovine and pig manures for reproducible laboratory testing. Accordingly, excrement samples of cattle and pigs individually kept at experimental and conventional animal houses were taken. Tap water was added to matrix characterized excrements in order to prepare bovine and pig reference manures of 10 and 5% dry substance contents, respectively. Subsequently, the long‐term transformation of selected ¹⁴C‐labeled test substances was investigated under strictly anaerobic conditions. The application of different batches of bovine or pig reference manures indicated that extrapolation of transformation rates within the same animal species was possible. However, results cannot be transferred from bovine to pig manure because of substance specific interactions with the different manure matrices. The dependency of metabolic dynamics on different dry substance contents (2.5, 5, 10%) was additionally investigated in both manure matrices. These tests clearly showed that the dry substance content of the reference manure is one of the most relevant factors affecting the transformation of veterinary medicines and biocides. In contrast to highly variable tank manures, the reference manure concept allows for the exact adjustment of this parameter to guarantee reproducible laboratory testing.     

Radiative forcing by contrails

A parametric study of the instantaneous radiative impact of contrails is presented using three different radiative transfer models for a series of model atmospheres and cloud parameters. Contrails are treated as geometrically and optically thin plane parallel homogeneous cirrus layers in a static atmosphere. The ice water content is varied as a function of ambient temperature. The model atmospheres include tropical, mid-latitude, and subarctic summer and winter atmospheres. Optically thin contrails cause a positive net forcing at top of the atmosphere. At the surface the radiative forcing is negative during daytime. The forcing increases with the optical depth and the amount of contrail cover. At the top of the atmosphere, a mean contrail cover of 0.1% with average optical depth of 0.2 to 0.5 causes about 0.01 to 0.03 Wm⁻² daily mean instantaneous radiative forcing. Contrails cool the surface during the day and heat the surface during the night, and hence reduce the daily temperature amplitude. The net effect depends strongly on the daily variation of contrail cloud cover. The indirect radiative forcing due to particle changes in natural cirrus clouds may be of the same magnitude as the direct one due to additional cover.     

软土后生作用的探讨

讨论了软土地区的褐黄色硬壳层、暗绿色硬土层和所谓“次生硬土”等特殊土层的成因,提出后生作用对软土改造的观点。这类土往往是建构筑物的天然地基或桩基持力层,因此进一步搞清其成因变化将是研究土力学和工程特性的重要地质学基础。     

台风“菲特”引发的浙江余姚地质灾害类型与特征分析

余姚市地处浙东沿海,受2013年23号强台风“菲特”影响,遭受百年一遇强降雨,农村山区地质灾害频发,因灾损失达200×10^8元以上。通过对余姚159处地质灾害的调查和统计分析,余姚市地质灾害类型主要为崩塌、滑坡和泥石流,滑坡占本次地质灾害总数的64．2％,主要为小型浅表土质滑坡,中型泥石流2处。地质灾害的发生与降雨、地形地貌、松散层厚度以及人类活动等多个方面因素有关,其中松散层厚度和人类工程活动影响最为明显。文中提出了相关的预防措施,通过加强防灾避灾宣传,严格审批农村切坡建房,对重要地段的适当回避等,防治并举,以减轻同类地质灾害的影响。     

一种移动空间信息服务系统的设计与实现

在介绍移动空间信息服务系统(MSISS)的概念、体系结构及技术背景的基础上,探讨了MSISS系统中导航定位、移动通信、嵌入式系统、移动计算等关键技术,提出了一种具有创新性的设计与实现策略。     

SPATIAL PATTERNS OF SUPPORT FOR A NUCLEAR WEAPONS FREEZE*

Support for a Freeze on nuclear weapons is greatest in the East with pockets of support in the Middle West and Pacific Coast States. Factors influencing the spatial pattern are Walker's innovativeness rankings, the number of peace/Freeze activist groups and the pattern of defense employment.